Corporate Body

CSIRO Division of Applied Physics [I] (1962 - 1974)

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

From
1 July 1962
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
To
1 July 1974
Functions
Industrial or scientific research
Location
Sydney, New South Wales

Summary

In 1962, a merger between the Divisions of Electrotechnology and Metrology resulted in the creation of the Division of Applied Physics. Another change occurred in 1974, when the Division was joined by the Division of Physics, forming the National Measurement Laboratory.

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From "CSIRO research for Australia" (1962) pdf page 48-50:
"The Division of Applied Physics has maintained the standard of length, mass and volume, and all the econdary tandards, such as area and density, which are derived from them. Since 1960, when the units of length were defined in terms or the wave length of an isotope of the gas krypton, it ha been possible to define the metre accurately to within one part in ten mjl!ion. Working standard of mass can be compared to a standard platinum-iridium kilogram on a balance accurate to more than one part in ten million.

There have been many useful applicalions of the metrological work. It has, for example, been largely instrumental in the establishment of an Australian scientific glassware industry. Research has led to the ability to produce very true flat surfaces, and this in turn has led to the invention of ingenious techniques for doing such things as sharpening microtome knive and hypodermic needles. It bas also been possible to show industry how to make very flat plates for precision condensers. An applied mechanics group in the Division has developed new ceramic machining tools from Australian materials, and has worked on the isolation of vibration.

The Division is also responsible for the maintenance of the standards of electrical and magnetic quantities. It maintains the Commonwealth standard of frequency in conjunction with the Mount Stromlo Observatory, and other standards derived from frequency, resistance, and electromotive force. As part of it service to industry the Division calibrates a wide range of electrical instruments and equipment, including resistors, bridges, potentiometers, capacitors and wave meters.

Fundamental research in electrotechnology has been concerned with the improvement and extension of electrical measuring and tandards facilities, the dielectric properties of in ulatingmaterial and the microwave spectra of gases. A recent outstanding achievement has been the construction of a capacitor, the value of which can be calculated from its dimensions. With this as a starting point it is possible to determine the absolute value of the ohm."

Timeline

 1939 - 1945 CSIR Metrology Section
 1939 - 1945 CSIR Electrotechnology Section
       1945 - 1962 CSIR/O Division of Metrology
       1945 - 1962 CSIR/O Division of Electrotechnology
             1962 - 1974 CSIRO Division of Applied Physics [I]
                   1974 - 1979 National Measurement Laboratory - CSIRO
                         1979 - 1996 CSIRO Division of Applied Physics [II]
                               1996 - CSIRO Division of Telecommunications and Industrial Physics

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Ailie Smith

Created: 28 June 2000, Last modified: 23 April 2025

EOAS ID: biogs/A000649b.htm

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